Crime & Safety
A Black Friday Romp Through the Metro’s Shoplifting History
Not long ago a woman walked into an Oak Park Mall bath and body store carrying two shopping bags. She lingered for two hours, examining the scented candles. Then the phone of Detective Byron Pierce of the Overland Park Police Department buzzed. The caller was an employee of the store. “Everything okay?” Pierce asked. No….
Behind the Scenes of Crime Scene Cleanup
[Transcript: Jeremy Cumberford, Owner and President, Crime Scene Cleaners] Jeremy Cumberford: “But there’s a lot of blood there.” “That’s going to keep everybody safe.” “The bullet hole went right through the windshield.” At Crime Scene Cleaners, we are the Midwest’s oldest crime and trauma remediation company, serving families and businesses after tragedies such as homicides,…
Services for Those Impacted by Violent Crime
[Transcript: Damon Daniel, President and CEO of the AdHoc Group Against Crime] Hello, my name is Damon Daniel, president and CEO of the AdHoc Group Against Crime. For some, AdHoc is the emergency room for social services, and for others, it’s the trust and bridge between the community and the criminal justice system. We work…
Jackson County Prosecutor Candidates Make Their Cases
Candidates for Jackson County prosecutor are dealing with questions about how they would prioritize violent crime versus more common nonviolent property crime.
Public Safety Debate Shapes Jackson County Prosecutor Race
Concern about public safety makes the Jackson County prosecutor race one of the most consequential on the upcoming August primary ballot. Meet the candidates.
Kansas and Missouri Lawmakers Tried Funding AI Weapon Detection Technology. How Does it Work?
ZeroEyes, an AI weapons detection system, is in 42 states. But some wonder about privacy issues, and whether there better ways to address gun violence.
Missouri Amendment 4: What to Know About the Kansas City Police Funding Ballot Question
Here’s an overview of Amendment 4, a police funding mandate targeting the Kansas City Police Department that will appear on the August primary ballot.
Kansas City Launches New Effort to Counter Gun Violence
Kansas City has launched a “focused deterrence” program, named SAVE KC, that engages potential victims or perpetrators of gun violence before it happens.
Overland Park Man Recalls Surprise Joyride with Patty Hearst
Tom Matthews was about to graduate from high school. Then Patty Hearst and the Symbionese Liberation Army abducted him. The Overland Park man recalls a joyride.
Seeking Environmental Justice in Kansas City
In cities across the U.S., heavily polluted industrial zones are often established adjacent to communities of color and low-income residents. “Flatland in Focus” speaks with residents living in Kansas City-area neighborhoods that suffer from a history of pollution.